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Takahiro was carrying out the last trash bag from the boys' restroom to the garbage receptacle when he bumped into Matsukawa.
“You're cleaning the boys' bathroom next time,” Takahiro says, grimacing as he tosses the bag into the large bin.
Matsukawa Issei. Tall, sorta lanky, and Takahiro's fellow counselor at Camp Maple in Tokyo for the past three years.
“It's not my fault that you always choose rock,” he responds, his grin both easy yet infuriating.
“I'll hit you with a rock.”
Matsukawa laughs and shakes his head as he rounds the corner of the brick building, pulling Takahiro with him so that they were both out of sight of the other camp goers.
Caught off guard, Takahiro stumbles a bit, causing Matsukawa to tighten his grip around his wrist and keeping him from falling forward.
The action only causes Takahiro to become chest to chest with his fellow counselor.
“Sneak out with me tonight.”
Takahiro’s eyes widen in response.
“What? We can't do that. We have kids to watch over.”
“Curfew is 9pm, all of the kids will be asleep by eleven.”
Takahiro can hardly believe his ears. Matsukawa was wanting him to sneak out of his assigned cabin tonight for who knows what reason. He had snuck out in the past, but he had never thought Matsukawa—of all people—would be the one asking him to sneak out with him.
“I don’t mind breaking the rules, but why should I do it for you?”
Matsukawa grins and Takahiro feels a shiver of excitement run down his spine.
“Because I wanna show you something.”
Takahiro purses his lips, thinking about what Matsukawa could have in store for him before nodding slowly.
“Fine. What time?”
“I’ll come get you when it’s time. Just be ready after the kids fall asleep.”
***
Takahiro waits patiently for his cabin of campers to fall asleep. He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t a little nervous.
He and Matsukawa have been counselors at Camp Maple for the past three years and over that time, Takahiro and Matsukawa had gotten to interact with each other quite a bit.
During that time they’ve learned each other’s likes, dislikes, things they’ll do, but don’t entirely care for.
While Matsukawa learned that Takahiro didn’t like putting bait on fish hooks, Takahiro learned that Matsukawa was terrified of snakes. He would never forget the look on Matsukawa’s face as a young camper carried a baby snake out of his cabin.
Takahiro knows that Matsukawa prefers oranges over apples—having watched him grab one over the other in the dining cabin every morning and frowning on days the oranges weren’t available.
He also know just how much the taller man hates cleaning the boys’ bathrooms.
Takahiro briefly wonders what else Matsukawa knows about him—if he pays as much attention as the pink-haired man.
As Matsukawa predicted, Takahiro’s group fell asleep before 11pm. He half expected Matsukawa to show up around midnight to come get him, but as time passed with no signs of the taller counselor, he found himself struggling to keep his eyes open.
He wasn’t sure when he had fallen asleep or what time it was when he heard the tapping, but after a particularly hard thwack against his bedroom window, Takahiro was startled awake.
He looked through the window and saw Matsukawa standing outside with a smug expression while pointing in the direction of the cabin’s door.
Takahiro grabbed his phone off the charger and—of course it’s 3am—made his way to the front door as quietly as he could.
After locking the door, he turns to look at a grinning Matsukawa. He was wearing a loose white t-shirt and black pants he had stuffed his hands into the pockets of.
“Dude. It’s 3 in the morning.”
“I told you I’d come get you when it was time. Have you no faith in your fellow counselor?” he asked, a hurt expression on his face.
“Now you know I’m not religious, Matsukawa,” Takahiro says, grinning and earning a laugh from the other man.
“You’re right. I should have known better. My deepest apologies for not telling you an exact time.”
Takahiro’s grin widens, following along as Matsukawa leads him… actually he can’t tell where Matsukawa is leading him with how dark it is outside. All he can tell is that they were heading in the direction of the woods.
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see. Just stay close.”
“You realize it is pitch black outside, right? I can barely see anything, let alone where you are.”
Takahiro thinks he hears Matsukawa’s steps falter, but he isn’t completely sure. He’s too busy wondering why Matsukawa is taking him away from the camp and through the forest this late in the first place.
Before his thoughts can start running off, a large hand covers his own, causing his breath to hitch and his cheeks to warm.
“Now you can’t fall behind,” Matsukawa says, continuing on the path ahead of them.
Takahiro can’t bring himself to respond—afraid that his words would get twisted in his throat or by the other man should he sound even the slightest bit flustered.
Flustered?
Takahiro’s cheeks grew hotter.
Since when was he flustered by Matsukawa?
He tries to focus his gaze on the ground so that he doesn’t trip over any sticks or stones while he’s currently going through apparently a huge revelation.
He’s known that he’s had an interest in men, not that he’s ever been with one—though he can’t really claim that he’s been with women either.
Aside from that one time a girl was dared to kiss him in middle school, but that could hardly count and was far from the point here.
He liked Matsukawa?
He thinks back to large hands attaching worms to his fishhooks and teasing words. He recalls putting an end to the snake pranks a few of their rowdier campers had thought up. He remembers grabbing the last orange on days Matsukawa overslept so they could trade.
But those were all things that friends would do for each other. It doesn’t mean that he likes him, right?
Images of failed rock, paper, scissors games and dirty boys’ restrooms fill his mind.
Oh god I do like him.
“You’re quieter than usual. You’re acting like I’m gonna kidnap you or something,” Matsukawa chuckles, pulling Takahiro from his spiraling thoughts.
“For all I know, you could be. I am quite desirable, you know.”
Matsukawa barks out a laugh and squeezes Takahiro’s hand as they come to a stop.
“I’m sure you are,” he says, his grin large enough that Takahiro can hear it in his voice, “We’re about there. It’s just through these trees.”
Takahiro lets himself be pulled through the trees and that’s when he recognizes the sound of water.
“So you’re going to drown me far away where nobody can hear me?”
Matsukawa chuckles as they come out of the trees and enter small clearing. Takahiro looks around the area, his eyes lingering on the lake and the way the moon shines on its surface.
“I stumbled across this area a few nights ago when I snuck away to smoke,” he explains, walking closer to the shore.
Takahiro raised an eyebrow at him and smirked.
“I knew it wasn’t a skunk. You might be able to fool the campers, but you can’t fool me.” Matsukawa laughs as he pulls out a little plastic bag from his pocket.
“Can’t put anything past you.”
Takahiro smiles as he watches Matsukawa pull a small joint out of the bag, putting the end between his lips as he fishes for the lighter in his pocket.
He felt kinda silly standing there and watching him, but he wasn’t sure what to say. Matsukawa, the man he recently found out he liked—he was 85% sure—invited him out here, but he couldn’t figure out why.
They were friends—he thinks—and they hung around each other at the camp often, but even then Matsukawa had never asked him to sneak out with him before.
“So…” he starts, watching the taller man light the joint and take a drag, “When does the drowning start? I’d like to know when I should start kicking and screaming.”
Matsukawa laughs, blowing out the smoke away from Takahiro’s face, an purses his lips in thought.
“Usually kidnappers don’t tell their victims that kind of information.”
“I’m not like other victims. I like to be prepared so I can put on a show.”
Matsukawa laughs but it turns into a coughing fit. The way he’s smiling as he shakes his head has Takahiro smiling just as wide, his cheeks warming as he lets himself get a good look at the other’s face.
Matsukawa might have been his tall, sorta lanky, fellow counselor at Camp Maple, but Takahiro couldn’t deny that he was attractive.
His dark hair had gotten a bit longer since last summer, showing off the curls he was hiding. It suited his angled features and Takahiro suddenly found himself wanting to run his fingers through it.
He barely just discovered his feelings for the other man and all of a sudden he wants to touch him?
Just how serious could crushes get? He’s had a few in the past, but none have made his heart beat as erratically as this one in such a short time.
“You wanna hit?”
He’s pulled from his thoughts by Matsukawa’s voice and he’s reminded that he needs to keep himself calm despite his inner turmoil.
Takahiro looks at the joint and considers his options. He smoked back in high school, but not frequently since he didn’t get out of the house often. Having two sisters around kept him from smoking near his home—especially since the younger one liked to get him into trouble.
“Sure.”
Takahiro takes the offered joint and puts it between his lips, inhaling the smoke.
This would be considered an indirect kiss, right? his brain supplied, causing Takahiro to immediately start coughing.
Matsukawa took the joint from his fingers so he wouldn’t burn himself and lightly pat him on the back.
“Jeez, it’s almost like you’ve never smoked before,” he chuckles, grinning as Takahiro sucked in a deep breath.
“It’s been a while.”
“I’m sure it has.”
“You’re teasing me again.”
Matsukawa gives him a knowing smirk before looking away to take another drag.
His cheeks hollow for a few seconds before he pulls the joint away, inhaling the night air and holding it in for a moment before blowing out the smoke.
“Maybe. It’s a fun pastime.”
Takahiro tries to hold back a smile, but the weed was starting to make him feel all light and floaty—a feeling he had forgotten, but enjoyed.
“Why did you want me to sneak out with you?”
Matsukawa hummed as he looked over the lake.
“I thought it was obvious,” he starts, smiling as he takes one last drag before putting the joint out on the bottom of his shoe, “I’m going to drown you of course.”
Takahiro snorted and shook his head, trying to fight off the blush threatening to cover his cheeks. ‘I thought it was obvious’ was not what he expected to hear and those words were not good for his newly fragile heart.
Gosh, I’m ridiculous, aren’t I?
“The only time we see each other is at Camp Maple. We’re always surrounded by kids and other adults, so I’ve never had a true chance to hang out with just you for longer than ten minutes.”
Takahiro blinked in disbelief, trying to recall moments where it had been just them hanging out over the past three summers and he’s surprised to find out that Matsukawa was right.
Any moment that came to mind were short-lived and interrupted, hardly enough time for them to talk alone. If he was being honest, he hadn’t thought that Matsukawa would want to talk to him alone.
They had already talked plenty even with others around. Enough for Takahiro to consider him a friend at least.
“I guess I’ve had too much fun to really notice.” Matsukawa smiled to himself and nodded before glancing at Takahiro.
“The kids and the camp coordinators sure know how to keep you busy. I’m pretty sure that you’re everyone’s favorite counselor.”
Takahiro let out a laugh and shook his head, his cheeks turning a deeper shade of red.
“It’s true, you know. The higher ups love the energy you bring to the activities and the kids love you. Can’t say I blame them though since you go along with their shenanigans most of the time.”
Takahiro knows that Matsukawa is essentially saying that he admires the effort he puts in for the campers, but his heart is yearning for it to be more than admiration.
“You’re just trying to butter me up so that it’s easier to drown me.”
Matsukawa laughs and takes a seat on the ground, leaning back on the palms of his hands. He looks up at Takahiro and nods for him to sit down beside him.
“You’re funny,” he says, shaking his head as he stares at the lake, “Why haven’t we kept in touch?”
“Like— after summer?” Matsukawa nods in response and Takahiro sits beside him, criss-crossing his legs and fidgeting with his hands, “I don’t know. I guess things just get so busy towards the end of summer, I never really thought to ask for your information…”
“Don’t sweat it too much, I could’ve asked you too.”
“Do you want to keep in touch?” Takahiro bit his lip as he waited for an answer.
The thought of texting Matsukawa whenever he pleased sounded nice. Maybe they would send each other dumb reels and talk about stuff other than camp chores and activities for once.
“I think I’d like that,” he smiles, glancing at Takahiro, “I mean— I’m moving as soon as camp is over and I’m not sure if I’ll be able to sign up as a counselor next year.”
Matsukawa’s smile falters and turns into something that makes Takahiro’s stomach twist.
“You’re moving?”
“Yeah, my family’s got a new business north of here. They want me to start working there since I finished my schooling here. I told them that I wanted to at least volunteer at Camp Maple for one more summer and then I would go.”
Takahiro was quiet for a moment, processing what Matsukawa told him and formulating a proper response.
Newly discovered feelings aside, Takahiro was saddened by the news of Matsukawa moving. He had always been a good counselor and friend to him at the camp and he wasn’t sure if he wanted to imagine Camp Maple without him.
Takahiro knows that it’d be difficult for Matsukawa to continue volunteering while living far away. Hell— he was lucky that he could still volunteer. The only reason he’s able to is because he’s got a grandmother in Tokyo that allows him to stay with her during the summer months.
“I don’t suppose this business would allow you to take two months off every year and take the train Tokyo?” Matsukawa grins with mirth.
“Not if I wanna pay my bills in the summer,” he says, laying back on the grass and looking up at the sky, “Plus, a train ticket from Miyagi to Tokyo in this economy? Sheesh…”
“No kidding,” Takahiro snorted, having had to save up every year to cover that ticket. You’d think that you’d save money with—
Wait.
He snaps his head to look at Matsukawa.
“What did you say?”
“Uh… that a train ticket from Miyagi to Tokyo in this economy is ridiculous?”
Takahiro can feel every hair on his body standing up, his heart rate picking up, and he can barely contain the smile on his face.
“Dude!” Takahiro starts, excitedly lunging for Matsukawa and hovering over the side of him, “I live in Miyagi!” he says, smiling as wide.
The man below him looks shocked, as if he could hardly believe what he was hearing.
“What?”
“I grew up in Miyagi! I just stay with my gran during the summer so I can volunteer here and help her around the house before fall comes.”
Matsukawa smiles and his features grow soft with relief.
“That’s… That’s good to hear. That means that we can hang out in person more.”
“Yeah! I’ll show you around the area and introduce you to my friends too! Aw man, I think you and my friend Iwaizumi will get along great!”
“That sounds fun,” he says, his cheeks taking on a darker shade of red that’s hardly noticeable in the moonlight.
Takahiro tilts his head slightly before realizing that he’s still nearly on top of the man.
“Oh! I’m sorry! I guess I just got a little excited— AH!”
Before he could pull away completely, Matsukawa flips them both over in one swift motion and hovers over Takahiro.
Takahiro’s breath catches in his throat and his eyes widen in surprise.
“Hanamaki?”
Takahiro hums his response, afraid that his voice would crack if he spoke out loud.
“Can we play rock, paper, scissors?”
The random question had him tilting his head to the side, momentarily forgetting the position that they were in.
“Why? What do you get if you win?”
Matsukawa smiles softly at him, glancing down at his lips for a moment.
“I get to kiss you.”
Takahiro didn’t think it was possible for his eyes to widen any more than they already were, but Matsukawa just keeps surprising him tonight.
Matsukawa wants to kiss me?
Who would have thought that the night that he became aware of his feelings would also be the night he would be given the chance to act on them?
Matsukawa wants to kiss me.
Takahiro nods slowly and brings his fist in front of his chest. Matsukawa settles his knees on either side of Takahiro’s thighs and brings his fist into view.
“Ready?”
Takahiro nods.
“Rock, paper, scissors, shoot.”
Takahiro’s hand remains in a fist—as it always does—in front of his chest and Matsukawa grins.
“You chose rock again.”
Takahiro nods with a smile.
“I always do.”
Matsukawa grins, leaning down and kissing him softly. He brings his free hand up to hold the side of Takahiro’s face, his thumb swiping across his cheek as Takahiro wraps his arms around his shoulders.
When he pulls away, his smile is soft and his eyes are full of amusement.
“So am I right to think that you purposely clean stinky bathrooms so I don’t have to?” Takahiro’s cheeks grow hotter and he tries to avert his gaze.
“You caught on to that?”
“Hanamaki, you have been cleaning the boys’ bathroom in my place for the past two and a half summers. I’m not dumb.”
Takahiro purses his lips together and plays with the ends of Matsukawa’s hair.
“You can call me Takahiro… or even Hiro if you want.”
Matsukawa blinks at him, his face growing redder before he buries it in Takahiro’s shoulder.
“Hiro… You’re gonna kill me.”
“That’s not how this night started…” Matsukawa snorts and shakes his head, pulling away to look at him.
“Then you can call me Issei.”
Thump. Thump.
“Okay, Issei.”
“Never mind, I think I might actually die if you do.”
Takahiro laughs and Matsukawa kisses him again.
“We should probably get back. We’ve got the cabin relays in the morning and I’ve kept you out long enough.”
Takahiro frowns and Matsu—Issei—laughs before kissing his forehead and standing up, offering him a hand.
“You can tell me how terrible I am on our way back,” he says, intertwining their fingers, “And maybe you can tell me more about Miyagi before I move next week.”
***
On the final night, all of the campers and counselors gather around a large bonfire. They tell stories and jokes about their time at Camp Maple while roasting marshmallows to make s’mores.
There’s laughter and some tears from those that won’t be returning, but Takahiro feels his chest expanding with the warmth he feels.
Matsukawa Issei sits on the log beside him, laughing as one of the quieter girls claps back at the boys for something Takahiro didn’t quite catch.
Nobody could really blame him though—after tonight, Takahiro has one week left in Tokyo and then he gets to go back to Miyagi where Issei will be.
Where his boyfriend will be.
His heart thumps wildly as he thinks about showing him around and introducing him to his friends.
“Hiro.”
“Wha—ack!” A large marshmallow is shoved into his mouth and Issei grins as several campers laugh and giggle uncontrollably.
“See? I told you he wasn’t paying attention,” Haru says, crossing his arms with a smug smile on his face.
Takahiro chews the marshmallow and shakes his head, trying to hold back his laughter as he grabs a large marshmallow from the bag and throws it at the boy’s head.
Haru sees it coming and opens his mouth wide, catching the marshmallow and cheering loudly.
“Nice throw,” Issei says quietly to just him and it has the hairs on the back of his neck standing up.
“Thanks. I was trying to get him in the forehead.”
Issei laughs nudges his shoulder with his own.
“I’ll miss them,” he says, watching the campers as some try to catch marshmallows in their mouths.
“Yeah?” Issei nods, his features growing softer.
“Yeah. I wasn’t super into counseling when I first started, but it became something I looked forward to every year.”
“Maybe we don’t have to stop,” Takahiro says, catching Issei’s attention, “Camp Maple wants to expand to other areas. I’m sure they’ll have one near us. Hell— maybe they’ll let us be in charge on one if there isn’t one already.”
“Us in charge of a summer camp?” Issei asks, his lip curling up into a grin, “You realize that that would be a very bad idea, right?”
Takahiro nudges his arm, making him laugh.
“I’m serious! I think it would be cool. That way you can still do your work and volunteer if you wanted.”
Issei nods and smiles.
“I think that would be really fun. Let’s talk about it more later, okay? I wanna start telling scary stories now.”
Takahiro grins, watching as Issei captures the attention of the campers.
He knows that things are new and they still have a lot to learn about each other, but he’s looking forward to the future with Issei.